Ever wanted to bet on a rugby match but found the odds too one-sided? Who wants to back a 1/100 favorite with almost no return? That’s where handicap betting comes in! This market makes even the most lopsided games exciting by giving both teams an equal chance—adjusting the score before the game even begins. Handicap betting adds points to the underdog’s score or deducts points from the favorite’s total, leveling the playing field.
How Handicap Betting Works (With Half-Point Example)
Handicap betting ensures that the stronger team must win by a set number of points, while the weaker team can either win outright or lose within a specific margin. This makes betting more competitive and increases the value of your wager.
Breaking it Down
- The stronger team starts with a negative points handicap. They must win by more than this number for a bet on them to succeed.
- The weaker team starts with a positive points advantage. They can either win the game or lose within the given margin and still win on the handicap.
- The half-point (e.g., -85.5 or +85.5) ensures there’s no tie, so the bet has only two possible outcomes.
Putting It into Practice
Imagine a match between the Springboks and Romania—a clear mismatch. A bookmaker might set the handicap like this:
📌 South Africa (-85.5) 9/10 vs Romania (+85.5) 9/10
Since South Africa is the much, much stronger team, they start the game 85.5 points behind.
If you bet on:
✅ South Africa (-85.5) – They must win by at least 86 points for your bet to win.
✅ Romania (+85.5) – They must win outright or lose by 85 points or fewer for your bet to win.
Example Result
Final Score: South Africa 100 – 3 Romania
- If you backed South Africa (-85.5), you deduct 85.5 points from their score:
- Adjusted score: South Africa 14.5 – 3 Romania
- ✅ Winning Bet!
- If you backed Romania (+85.5), you add 85.5 points to their score:
- Adjusted score: South Africa 100 – 88.5 Romania
- ❌ Losing Bet.
Final Thoughts
Handicap betting is an exciting way to find better value and keep even the most one-sided rugby matches thrilling. Try it on your next rugby wager! 🏉💰
